Every Somali knows the national anthem. Children at school. Grown-ups at home. Army officers of all ranks. Even
warlords gunning for any piece of the action they can get at the expense of their own people. They all sing: Wake up
Somalia; Join hands together.

No doubt Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon meant very well when only three days after taking over he issued an
unsolicited statement on 4 January indicating that he has been "closely" following developments in Somalia and
expressing a belief that a "new opportunity many exist...etc." By 23 April, he had to issue a totally different
statement on how he was "gravely concerned" about the continued heavy fighting which reportedly killed more than 250
people and forced more than 320,000 from their homes over the last six days alone. Two weeks earlier High Commissioner
for Human Rights indicated that 100,000 had fled Mogadishu over the past two months -- that is immediately following
that "window" indicated by our distinguished Secretary General. Alas, there was no window, but more trouble. These failed
projections may sound trivial in New York, but they are a matter of life and death in Somalia where the U.N. seems
increasingly clueless.

A main question is: where is the U.N. Special Representative? What is his advice? Does he really have a clue? Why
does he totally disappear when drastically needed? Why does he only show up during a few days of relative calm to
tell the media about "the grave concern of the Security Council," as if those exchanging fire are holding their breath
to hear his latest pearls of wisdom!

Francois Lonseny Fall must believe that meeting the President and Prime Minister and a pontificating appeal would
be enough for him to claim that he was doing the best he can. Meanwhile, it is obvious, as Bill Spinder of UNHCR
explained, that families who used to live in neighborhoods affected by fighting are still reluctant to return
precisely because of the reported presence of soldiers of the Transitional Government and allied Ethiopian troops.
"Civilians fear that should they go back they might be caught once more in the crossfire." Furthermore those over
250,000 internally displaced during previous conflicts have not been able to return to their homes because their
houses have been destroyed by mortar shelling or because they can no longer access the place where they need to live
because of insecurity.

But that does not faze Monsieur Fall, as long as he can masquerade as an international special envoy discussing
matters with members of the Security Council in New York.

The new Secretary General indicated that Africa will be a priority. He seems to be taking the right steps on
Darfur despite inevitable setbacks. Making arrangements in collaboration with Saudi King Abdullah at the Arab
Summit was a creative move. Involving Egypt's President Mubarak, African Union Konare and Arab League Secretary General
Amre Moussa proved effective enough to move forward. But on Somalia, the U.N. looks out of the loop to the point of
ridicule.

While Mr. Ban has promised continuity, he also promised change. If for some reason he does not wish to change Falfall;
at least WAKE HIM UP!